A Chicken Salad with Grapes is a fresh, light, and delicious dish that combines tender chicken, sweet grapes, crunchy vegetables, and a creamy dressing. It’s perfect for lunch, a picnic, or as a filling for sandwiches or wraps. Here’s a simple and tasty recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded or diced)
- 1 cup red grapes (or green, if preferred), halved
- 1/4 cup celery, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped (optional)
- 1/4 cup toasted chopped pecans or walnuts (optional, for extra crunch)
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise (you can substitute with Greek yogurt for a lighter version)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (optional, for extra flavor)
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional, for sweetness)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice (or to taste)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions:
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
- Cook the chicken: If you don’t have pre-cooked chicken, you can cook chicken breasts by boiling, grilling, or roasting. Once cooked, shred or dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Cool the chicken: Let the chicken cool completely before mixing it with the other ingredients.
Step 2: Prepare the Salad Ingredients
- Halve the grapes: Cut the grapes into halves or quarters, depending on their size.
- Chop the vegetables: Chop the celery and red onion (if using). You can also chop the nuts if you like them in smaller pieces.
Step 3: Make the Dressing
- Mix the dressing: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard (if using), honey or maple syrup, and lemon juice. Stir until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Taste and adjust: Taste the dressing and adjust the sweetness or acidity by adding more honey, mustard, or lemon juice as needed.
Step 4: Assemble the Chicken Salad
- Combine the ingredients: In a large bowl, add the shredded or diced chicken, halved grapes, chopped celery, red onion (if using), and nuts (if using).
- Add the dressing: Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and toss everything together until evenly coated.
Step 5: Serve
- Serve chilled: You can serve the chicken salad immediately, or refrigerate it for 30 minutes to let the flavors meld together.
- Garnish: Optionally, garnish with fresh chopped parsley for a pop of color and flavor.
Serving Ideas:
- Serve the chicken salad on a bed of greens (like lettuce or spinach) for a light, healthy meal.
- Spoon it onto sandwich bread or a wrap for a delicious lunch.
- Pair it with crackers for a tasty snack.
This chicken salad with grapes is a sweet and savory dish that’s refreshing and satisfying. Enjoy!